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During their early years, children's brains are highly receptive to learning and growth.

Providing nurturing and stimulating opportunities helps to build a strong foundation to develop cognitive, emotional, and social skills.

We’ve listed ten simple adventures to do with your child that can develop their understanding of the world around them and help them learn new things such as counting, writing and reading.

Count to five
Count to five
Counting is an important first step in learning about numbers. You can practise counting together with your child during everyday activities like sharing snacks or tidying up toys.

Draw with a pencil
Draw with a pencil
Drawing helps your child build strong hand muscles and learn to control their movements. These skills are essential for writing.

Go on a bug hunt
Go on a bug hunt
Bug hunts are a fantastic way for your child to connect with nature and be active outdoors. They'll also practise their observation skills and learn about wildlife.

Write out a card for family or friends
Write out a card for family or friends
Sending cards helps your child develop relationships with others by being kind and thoughtful. It also gives them a chance to practise writing and reading.

Walk in the woods
Walk in the woods
Walking in the woods is great exercise for your child. It also gives them a chance to explore nature, use their senses, and let their imaginations run wild.

Make a snowman
Make a snowman
Building a snowman is a fun way for your child to be active in the snow and use their imagination. Rolling snowballs and putting them together requires lots of energy and creativity.

Plant a sunflower and see how tall it grows
Plant a sunflower and see how tall it grows
Gardening with sunflowers teaches your child about nature and encourages them to spend time outdoors. It's a wonderful way to watch something grow together.

Choose a recipe and bake it with a grown-up
Choose a recipe and bake it with a grown up
Baking is a fun way to spend quality time together and encourages your child to try new foods.

Look for letters and numbers
Look for letters and numbers on signs in the community
This is a fun way to help your child learn to recognise letters and numbers. It also helps them learn the names of letters and numbers and improves their talking skills.

Make a shopping list and go shopping
Make a shopping list and go shopping
Shopping trips are full of learning opportunities where your child can practise writing, counting, and talking about food and shopping.